Boston mayor launches 'SpotHoles' campaign

By Catherine Cloutier, Boston.com Staff

As the last of the snow melts, the City of Boston has turned its sights on another roadway menace: the pothole.

Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino announced the city's "SpotHoles" campaign on Wednesday. During its two-week duration, the city is asking residents to identify the potholes in their neighborhood and report them to the Department of Public Works.

"Boston’s residents deserve a smooth ride," said Menino, in a news release. "Our city works best when everyone works together. With residents help, we can identify and repair potholes more quickly than if Public Works did it alone."

Residents can call the Mayor's Hotline at (617) 635-4500 with pothole locations, submit a photo via the Citizens Connect app, file a request online, or report the pothole on Twitter by tweeting @NotifyBoston with #spotholes.

The Department of Public Works will use its Tumblr page to update residents on the campaign's progress, with a daily pothole tally and interactive map.

One day into the campaign, 485 potholes have been corrected. The city fills about 19,000 potholes annually.

City of Boston

Boston Public Works Department employees Aroll Victor and Julio Echemendia clear rocks from a pothole in South Boston on March 12.

City of Boston

Victor and Echemendia drill into the street in South Boston on March 12.

City of Boston

Public Works employees John Mullaney, James Taylor and Victor fill in a South Boston pothole with tar on March 12.

City of Boston

John Antoniou, of the Boston Public Works Department, Taylor and Mullaney put the finishing touches on a corrected pothole in South Boston on March 12.